Dispensing machine



Oct. 12, 1948. H. MJKAUFFMAN DISPENSING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 30, 1946 INVEN TOR. Hqzzv M K/wFF/w/JM H/s A7- razA/sw 1948. H. M. KAUFFMAN DISPENSING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 30, 1946 INVENTOR. .HAZZY M KAUFFMAM Patented Oct. 12, 1948 DISPENSING MACHINE Harry 'M. Kauifman, Philadelphia, .Pa., ,assignor of one-half to William La Monaca, Bhiladelphia, Pa.

Application April 30, 1946, Serial N0. 665,-966

v Claims.

This invention relates to dispensing devices, :and particularly :to :a small, unique machine for dispensing cigarettes and the like.

The invention pertains to the type of dis- :pensing machine wherein a button or :lever is pressed to operate a carrier that separates .one cigarette from a hopper and places the cigarette in such a position that it may readily be picked up for use.

Various types of machines have been provided for this purpose, but they are either costly or :cumbersome, or damage the cigarettes.

This invention contemplates a dispensing machine having comparatively few operating parts, -in-which the parts are comparatively simple and inexpensive, and, at thesame time, are of sturdy construction wherein the life of the machine is extended indefinitely.

' A novel feature of the invention is to incorporate in a dispensing machine of this type a duplicateset of operating parts sothat cigarettes may -be supplied from two different hoppers in opposite sides of the machine.

Dispensing machines of this type necessarily involve several moving parts, and due to the fact sons, the parts are subjected to comparatively severe use and, therefore, the parts must be designed and mounted to withstand shock, loads, and strains inherent in devices of this type.

Auniquecigarette-dispensing machine of this type, which maybe placed upon a desk, table, or the like cannot be large; and in fact, must be comparatively small so that its appearance will be neat and, at the same time, pleasing, and lfor this reason, the machine of this invention uses storage hoppers of'limited capacity, andas these must 'be replenished comparatively often, they must :be readily accessible.

To accomplish this end, the invention contemplates a dispensing machine in which all operating :parts are mounted independent of the :cover, and the cover is adapted to :be readily opened and closed so that the supply of cigarettes :in the hoppers may be replenished.

The operation of a machine of this type .must Jae-comparatively simple and, at the same time, efficient. .For this purpose, the machine of this mention includes a carrier or elevator which first picks up a cigarette, and then conveys it upward :to an exterior tray, and associated with the elevator are spring fingers which permit the elevator to travel downward in the closed position; then, .as it reaches the end of its downward movement, open the-elevator, and then .hold it open .during the upward travel movement thereof.

For practical use, a cigarette dispenser of this type must be so constructed that it may readily be packed in a comparatively small carton, and to facilitate the packing, the dispenser of this invention is constructed with all operating parts, such as the buttons by which the elevators are operated, removable and also readily replaceable.

As dispensers of this type are subjected to considerable abuse in the operation thereof, the dispenser of this invention also contemplates the use of operating parts that are readily repleaceable and .a removable housing that :may be removed so that the parts may be removed and replaced.

The purpose of this invention is, therefore, to

provide a comparatively neat device for disv that the machines are used by all types of .per-

pensing cigarettes and the like, the-externalsappearance of which is pleasing to the eye, and the operating elements of which are associated for continuous operation, and also mounted 'for replacement to compensate for wear or dam- .age in use.

Dispensing machines of this type are normally made of metal; and whereas, it is not desired to be limited to the use of any one material, the device is designed so that it may be made of plastic or a similar material.

An object of the invention is, therefore, to provide a simple, unique, and, at the same time, rugged device adapted for use on a desk,- stand, table, and the like, for dispensing cigarettes and the like.

Another object is to provide a device for dispensing cigarettes and the like, which is unique in that the operating parts are in duplicate wherein cigarettes may be dispensed from two hoppers, and two cigarettes may be dispensed at a time.

A further object of the invention is to provide a neat dispensing device, which is of a pleasing appearance, that may readily be opened for replenishing the supply of objects dispensed thereby.

A still further object is to provide a neat and attractive dispenser for cigarettes and the like in which the entire housing may be removed to permit replacement of the parts thereof.

With these and other objects in view, the invention embodies a dispenser having a comparatively thin housing or shell with a -hinged cover mounted on a base, with elevators slidable on the sides of ,a central standard, means for operating the elevators, and storage hoppers lasso- 3 ciated with the elevators and. adapted for feeding cigarettes and the like thereon.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a prospective view showing an elevation of the dispenser. g

Figure 2 is an end view of the interior mechanism with the case and base omitted, and with part of one of the hoppers broken away.

Figure 3 is a view showing a side elevation of the interior with the case and base omitted,

Figure 4 is a detail showing one of the elevators with the operating lever associated therewith; and

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line and as Viewed in the direction of the arrows 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, the dispensing machine of this invention is formed with a case 10. having a base H and a hinged cover l2.

The cover [2 is formed with an opening l3 at the center, and the operating mechanism supplies cigarettes to a tray It in the central part of the opening from which the cigarettes may readily be removed or picked up for use.

The tray [4 is formed as a recess at the upper end of a standard l5, and on the sides of the standard are storage hoppers l6 and H through which elevators l3 and i9 operate to Place the cigarettes in the tray. The lower ends of the hoppers are provided with openings 20 and 2| through which the elevators pass. The upper ends 22 of the elevators slope inward and downward toward the sides of the standard providing holding means for the cigarettes.

The elevators l8 and I9 are slidably mounted in trackways in recesses 23 in the sides of the standard, with slots 24 sliding over tongues 25 in the standard, and with pins 26 at the sides of the elevators extending into slots 21 of operating lever's 28. The levers 28 are fulcrumed on pins 29 at the forward end of the standard, and their outer ends 36 extend outward through slots 3| and 32 in the case; The extending ends 30 of the levers nray be provided with removable buttons or handles 33 and 34, as shown in Figure 1. These handles may adi y be removed when it is desired the upper end of the standard, and then the.

cigarette being conveyed will roll into the tray It.

The'body portion of each elevator l8, IS includes a block 35 to which a cigarette engaging plate or member [8a, l9a respectively is swingingly attached by a hinge 36, as shown in Figure 3, and these hinged plateswhich serve as cigarette carriers are provided with downwardly extending spring members 37 and 38. 1

After depositing a cigarette in the'tray I l at the upperend of the standard, springs 39 andM] return the levers and elevators to the downward position, and as they approach the lower end of the" downward movement, the spring" members l 4 31 engage the inner, sloping surfaces of blocks 41, which causes the upper ends of the hinged plates l8a, l9a to swing outward to the position illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. The springs 38 bear against the surfaces of the standard and function to limit the swinging movement of the hinged carrier plates I811, [9a. in the outward or carrying position throughout the; upper movement thereof. As the elevators move downward, the hinged plates are free to swing inwardly within the limits of the block, as they pass through and are turned inwardly by contact with the cigarettes in the hoppers, and as they approach the lower-most positions, they will be moved outward to the carrying positions by the springs- .31 as described.

The standard [5 is mounted upon an inner base element 42 over which the case [0 is placed, and then the case with the element therein is mounted in the base II.

The cover. I 21s removably' mountedon the-upper endof the case, and this may be 'hingedor held by friction, as may be desired. The construction of the dispensing -machine will be readily understood from the foregoing description. In use, the cover l2 may be removed so that cigarettes may be placed in the. hoppers l6 and H, and when a cigarette is desired, one of the extending ends, 33 or 3d, of theleversjZtl may be pressed downward, and as the outer'end is pressed downward, the inner end will operate one of the elevators which will travel upwardin details may be provided in putting the invention into practice within the purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispenser for cigarettes andthe like comprising in combination a standard with a receiving tray in the upper surface thereof, storage hoppers on either side of said-standard and open on the side abutting-said standard, recessedvertical trackways insaid standard extendingalong the open side of said hoppersand continuing below said hoppers, elevators adapted for vertical movement in said trackways and manual lever operating means for raising and lowering said elevators, cigarette engaging plates hinged on -said elevators by hinges limiting the hinged movement of said plate from the vertical to an angular position just sufficient to'engage a cigarette, said plate adapted to move in a vertical direction with said elevator from a position .at the top of the hoppers to a position below'the hoppers through an opening at the bottom of the hoppers, said plate being of a width less, than the width of the hoppers, and cam means below the bottom of the hoppers adapted to force the hinged plate outwardly into cigarette. engaging ,position, said plate being forced into saidrecess during downward movement bythe cigarettes in said hopp rs. r

p 2." A' dispenser for 'cigarettes'and the like com prising, in combination, a standard witha r' I ceiving'tray in the upper surface thereof, storage hoppers on either s'ide of said standard and open on the side abutting said' standard,recessed vertical trackways in said standard extending along the open side of said hoppers and continuing below said said hoppers, elevatorsadapted for vertical movement in said trackways and means for raising and lowering said elevators, cigarette engaging plates hinged on said elevators by hinges limiting the hinged movement of said plates from the vertical to an angular position just sufficient to engage a cigarette, said plate adapted to move in a vertical direction with said elevator from a position at the top of the hoppers to a position below the hoppers through an opening at the bottom of the hoppers, said plate being of a width less than the width of the hoppers, and means below the bottom of the hoppers adapted to force the hinged plate outwardly into cigarette engaging position, said plate being forced into said recess during downward movement by the cigarettes in said hoppers.

3. A dispenser for a cigarette and the like comprising, in combination, a standard with a receiving tray in the upper surface therof, a storage hopper on either side of said standard and open on the side abutting said standard, a recessed vertical trackway in said standard extending along the open side of the said hopper and continuing below said hopper, an elevator adapted for vertical movement in said trackway and means for raising and lowering said elevator, a cigarette engaging plate hinged on said elevator by a hinge limiting the hinged movement of said plate from the vertical to an angular position just suflicient to engage a cigarette, said plate adapted to move in a vertical direction with said elevator from a position at the top of the hopper to a position below the hopper through an opening at the bottom of the hopper, said plate being of a width less than the width of the hopper, and means below the bottom of the hopper adapted to force the hinged plate outwardly into cigarette engaging position, said plate being forced into said recess during downward movement by the cigarette in said hopper.

4. A dispenser for cigarettes and the like comprising, in combination, a standard with a receiving tray in the upper surface thereof, a storage hopper with an open side abutting said standard, a recessed vertical trackway in said standard, extending from the top of said hopper to a point below said hopper, an elevator slidably mounted in said trackway, operating means for raising and lowering said elevator in said trackway, said elevator having hinged cigarette engaging plates adapted to be forced inwardly into said recess by the cigarettes or the like in the hopper during the downward movement of the elevator and adapted to be forced out of said recess and into cigarette engaging position at the bottom of the hopper, and apertures at the bottom of the hopper also narrower than the hopper adapted to allow said plates to pass through.

5. A dispenser for cigarettes and the like comprising in combination a standard with a receiving tray in the upper surface thereof, a storage hopper with an open side abutting said standard, a recessed vertical trackway in said standard, extending from the top of said hopper to a point below said hopper, an elevator slidably mounted in said trackway, operating means for raising and lowering said elevator in said trackway, said elevator having a hinged cigarette engaging plate adapted to be forced inwardly into said recess by the cigarettes or the like in the hopper during the downward movement of the elevator and means to force said plate out of said recess and into cigarettes engaging position below said hopper.

HARRY M. KAUFFMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 688,129 Schneckenb-urger Dec. 3, 1901 785,672 Jaeger Mar. 21, 1905 939,100 Schille Nov. 2, 1909 1,100,043 Wilson June 16, 1914 1,134,669 Chiniquy et al Apr. 6,1915 1,706,040 Peterson Mar. 19, 1929 1,996,472 Hermann Apr. 2, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 372,008 France 1907 

